Top 10 Concepts from COM 250
10. Infographics
I find that infographics were an important part of the conversation in COM 250 because of how useful they are to get information. Personally, in a range of my classes infographics are used constantly. They translate information into a fun and easy way to understand and read. An infographic provides us with data and language to understand a certain topic. I find that they are a great way to make use of media in education.
9. Sponsored Content
Sponsored content is truly everywhere in our lives. Every time we go on social media there is always an influencer promoting a product in the form of authentic content. This topic is essentially important in viewing and digesting the content we see online. Recognizing a sponsored post versus an authentic post can help us tell the difference between what is someone’s authentic opinion on something versus what someone is being paid to promote. Knowing the difference provides us with media literacy when it comes to social media.
8. Hashtag Activism
Hashtag Activism is extremely important because it helps movements go viral and gain traction in our crazy digital world. Hashtag activism can provide a spotlight for many social and political issues that may not otherwise become noticed. Hashtag activism shows us how social media is a great place to be heard and seen and create the change we want to see when it comes to certain issues in our society.
7. Screen Time
I find screen time to be a very important concept because it shows us truly how much of our lives are spent in the digital realm. When I reflect on this topic, I think back to the beginning of the semester when we kept track of our screen time for a whole week. This was such an eye-opening experience for me and made me realize how much of my time I truly spend online. This is also such an important topic when it comes to how much time children spend online. What we see online can shape and form us in so many ways, especially in young children.
6. Violent Media Effects
An important part in my eyes of media literacy as a whole is recognizing the violent media effects that may take place. In our section, “Is My Brother Addicted to Media?”, we dived into this concept and how too much media exposure especially to certain types of content can promote feelings of aggression, fear, and mistrust, acceptance of watching others get hurt, and an increased appetite for violence. An important part of this conversation is video games and the violence they promote and how easily young people get desensitized to what they are viewing on their screens.
5. User Experience Design
User experience design is extremely important for a brand’s success online. When searching online for anything, in particular, we always gravitate toward what is easy to find and comprehend. We do not want to go on an online wild goose chase just to find what we are looking for. When a website is set up to meet the user’s needs, they are 100% more successful than those websites that are hard to follow or understand. Using the internet should be easy not a challenge.
4. Stereotypes
We see stereotypes everywhere. They are in almost everything we see and comprehend in society, especially in our digital world as well and it is important to be able to recognize them and understand what they mean. In TV shows, movies, and social media content stereotypes are present. These stereotypes are important to understand as we can realize they truly inhibit creativity and limit our imaginations. The world we live in is not a small box and stereotypes tend to put people in boxes. It is important to realize the presence of stereotypes and how to combat them in our creative realms and society as a whole.
3. 5 Critical Questions of Media Literacy
The 5 Critical Questions of Media Literacy are the foundation for understanding and questioning the media in our lives. These questions are Who is the author and what is the purpose? What techniques are used to attract and hold attention? What lifestyles, values, and points of view are depicted? How might different people interpret the message differently? What is omitted? These questions when used in analyzing a media source, can give us information about the source and how reliable something is. We can also use these questions to understand media and fully immerse ourselves in what we are absorbing and look at things more deeply.
2. Algorithms
Algorithms are an essential part of our media experience. Everything we click into or read is all kept track of in online databases. Big companies such as Facebook for example keep track of all their user data and personalize content such as advertisements that are geared towards each user’s interests. Recognizing the use of algorithms in our media can be great for realizing that not all content is what it seems and it can help us keep a more critical eye on what we are reading or even purchasing online.
- Propaganda
Propaganda to me was the most important topic in our class. I enjoyed learning about how propaganda is even present in the simplest of things. I think recognizing that sometimes content can have ulterior motives is incredibly important. It is also important to realize how propaganda can influence our beliefs, motives, and feelings. In our textbook Propaganda is also described as “Propaganda is carefully designed to tap into people’s hopes, dreams, and fears, and it is commonly used in politics, business, and activism.” Propaganda can influence people to act or behave in a certain way. Media literacy can help us recognize propaganda and this helps us in order to not be swayed by each thing we come across.
